Should I delete all photos of my ex?

[chick]

Now I have a new relationship which is going prettty well. I was keeping the photos of my ex and me together because they are my memories at the end, but I don't want to hurt my new boyfriend. Should I delete all of them?

[GoodManDave]

I'm pretty good at Photoshop. Even then, I kind of try to take a photo by myself, then maybe with a girlfriend, etc. I try to take multiple photos. This way, if things ended badly, I do have a photo of myself at this event, perhaps without the reminder. If I can't do that, well, again, I'm good at photoshop. But, let's assume that the photo can't be edited convincingly. It'd probably go in some box in storage. If the event is special enough to where I'd want to be reminded more of the vacation than the girl, I'd probably put it up somewhere that isn't super public, but where I can still see it. I'd probably be able to sort of distance myself from the girl emotionally enough to see it and not have a problem.

I'm lucky in that so far, none of my exes ever wanted photos.

The closest I got - a girl gave me a chachki... After the breakup (I found most of the relationship was a manipulation thing, not that she was really interested in me); I found the item and... "Ooops! :: drops it on purpose:: Oh no... it broke... I am SUCH a klutz! Well, now it's trash."

[MisterWack]

@chick If you went to a ____ with them and it is the only photo of you at that museum then you are allowed to keep it. If you spent time with a ( friend/family member/other ) and the individual is featured in the photo with your ex then keep the photo. Use common sense when figuring this out.

I do believe if your relationship ended, the ex should be removed in most cases entirely however that is only if you believe the relationship with the ex was terrible and a failure, some people are in denial and look back at the good moments even when it is over and with a new lover. Move on!

P. S. You should talk to your boyfriend about this and be honest with him, explain your reasonings and see how he reacts / then you can reach a point of understanding and healing can begin (not ur ex, your current boyfriend)

[PeachyPie93]

I'll never understand people who want to keep pictures of an ex.
Why do I care about memories we shared together? If they are an ex, I don't even care about that time, even if we remained friends. Like I might keep pictures of a trip we took together but not of us or him, it's stored in my mind, I don't need photographic evidence taking up space lol.

[Rei13]

I would put them somewhere that you still have them if you need to look back at any point, but definitely not somewhere you’re going to see them. You could do a hidden folder on your computer so they’re out of sight and out of mind.

[DishLady]

“Back in the day” girls used to keep albums and scrap books or “memory boxes” with stuff like this. So easy to just shove those in a closet or attic where we won’t see pics of our past all the time.



Today’s phone culture basically did away with the bulky sentimentality. But there’s the cloud… you can use that as your virtual “attic” and dump the pics there. When you’re older and looking back on your life you’ll be glad you didn’t just keep pressing delete on all your pics.


At the very least, keep the best one and do what you like with the rest.

[simon]

Deciding whether to delete photos of your ex can be a tough call and really depends on how you're feeling and what you need to move on.

If seeing those photos keeps you stuck in the past or triggers negative emotions, deleting them might help you heal and focus on the future. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

On the flip side, if you're feeling more neutral about the past and those photos don't stir up intense emotions, you could just archive them or move them to a folder where you don't see them every day. This way, you still have them for any sentimental or historical value without them being front and center.

[AviatorTom]

You can delete them if you what, but I'm guessing you had some good times with your ex, and you might want to remember that. Instead of deleting them, store them on a memory stick or computer so you still have them, should you ever want to look at them, but they're not out in the open.

[Finchie40]

If you want your new relationship to last the long haul , you are best to put your past behind you , meaning your ex , so deleting those pics is the respectful thing to do

[OlderAndWiser]

I would archive them somewhere that you don't see them daily, but don't delete them. You should never forget an ex; didn't that relationship teach you some things and change who you are?

[WindAtMyBack]

Don't ever delete pictures of people in your life. Your past is who you are. All the people in your life are part of who you are. Deleting pictures is like deleting part of yourself. If things were so bad that seeing the pictures is actually painful to you, then hide them away where you don't see them. Maybe 20-30 years from now you'll want to see them.

Personally I wish I had a lot more pictures of people, especially exes. It's not because I'm in love with them and want to stare at their pictures. They are just part of my past. It's the reason we take pictures in the first place.

If you happen to have audio or video recordings, even better.

[ManOnFire]

That is really up to you. I keep pictures of all my exes, just because I'm a personal historian and always need photos from the past, and I do like some of the memories, but I don't look at them often.

Assuming he most likely has an ex/exes as well, I don't think he will really be hurt from knowing you have pictures of yours, because he probably has the same. And even if he doesn't you can always tell him it's your ex and their just old photos. Nobody should make an issue of someone having an ex unless they're still secretly seeing them or following them on social media.

[RingOfFire]

At some point I would ask him about that. If you want to keep them, you could bring it up and see how he feels about it. But the two important things are..

1. Don't bring it up until you feel the timing is right to do so in the relationship. I would not do that too early on. Maybe wait until you can say something like in number two below...

2. Make sure you introduce the topic in a positive way such as "I have some old pictures of my ex that I'm planning to destroy because you are the one that is important to me. Do you think that's a good idea?". Find out what he thinks before doing it. He may say that he doesn't mind and you might decide you want to keep them just for nostalgia purposes.

[Keyboardkat]

If you're still hurting, if you're still in love, if the mention of his or her name still causes you to feel that kick in the stomach, if that certain song still brings you to tears, then I would say it's time for major surgery! Delete all those pictures, no matter how much it hurts! Keeping them around is kind of masochistic. You need to let yourself heal so you can move on. Looking at those pictures is like pulling the scab off a wound again and again.

[provokeesmokee]

I did because I didn't like any of them. But now I have exes with whom I'm still friends, so I keep their photos since we're still friends.

The exes I've gone no contact with (a cheater and an absolutely useless manchild American) I deleted all their photos.

[BTigers96]

I usually did. Life's windshield faces the forward position for a reason. Personally, once I "moved on" I didn't have any desire to re-live any past relationships by looking at pictures of the ladies I used to date.

To each their own though.

[Foolablee]

That is up to you and how you feel. Personally I am someone who cuts contact with ex's and deletes photos out of respect for the person I am with, the last thing I want is my partner to feel upset or uncomfortable about someone in my past life, it's not a big deal for me.

[Maebo44]

I made a photobook with some of our best pics and put the book somewhere in a shoebox & storaged it in our house. I never look at it and I dont miss my ex at all, but its nice to know I have those memories somewhere.

My husband has some pics of his ex too on an external hard drive. And I dont care about it. They are just old memories, as you said

Maybe your new boyfriend has pics of his ex as well 🤷‍♀️

[IslaTheWitch]

don't... those are your memories, and keeping them doesn't mean you are still in a relationship with him... no one can expect you to do that... and no one can force you...

[GeminiDiamond]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T3rXdeOvhNE

Keep them if all is well that ends well! Our life and memories are all we have! If the person you're with cannot understand that, then maybe they aren't the right person for you!

[Anonymous]

Yes deleted the photos of your ex , something similar happened to me when I was dating and I had pictures of my ex. It’s for the better you delete them.
You don’t have to give the impression that your ex lives in your mind and heart and also why keep being reminded of the past.


They are your ex for a reason.

[electromagnetic]

Maybe when you’re ready. It took me 5 years and well into a new relationship to delete all the photos. I still have a Polaroid photo I absolutely refuse to destroy. It’s tucked in my keepsakes.

[SugarSugarplum]

Archive them somewhere in the cloud where they're not on your phone. Your ex is part of your history, but he doesn't need to be immediately present to anger and annoy your next paramour.

[İronclaw_]

Delete it. If you don't delete it, it will continue to hurt more. Don't forget that there are thousands of girls with whom you can be much happier than her. Of course, unless you're unlucky enough to never meet those girls, I don't know about that. That's a separate issue.

[coxoabean]

You could ask yourself, would you like it if he kept pictures of his ex? How would it make you feel? But I do think you should! It'd only be respectful to him.

[dustybiker2]

Stick them in some back up app and leave them. No harm in reminiscing once in a while but there's no need for them to be up in your life anymore. They are a part of your past.

[Levin]

I think your boyfriend should be mature and accept that you have past partners.

They're just memories. I would not delete mine.

[HawkPerception]

YES. If you want to move on, that's the FIRST thing you should do. After that, time will do the rest.

[Curmudgeon]

Well, I wouldn't have them out displayed, but you could certainly have them in an album (physical or digital).

[HelpfulWoman]

nope.
any man you date who's triggered over photos of your life from before him is not relationship material.

[Iron_Man]

No, because it’s the same old recycling door every time you get a new boyfriend, the pictures of your past get deleted vacations the fun times you don’t delete your past just because you found a new boyfriend

[loveslongnails]

If your new boyfriend is going to be hurt because you had a former boyfriend, or a life before you met him, you should be re-evaluating your new boyfriend.

[foxsquirrell]

Why don't you store them away in a secure folder somewhere? I would not delete them if they are good memories. Unless it was a bad break up, and you would love to kill him. If you delete them they will be lost forever.

[JesseP1nk]

That is crazy talk. Show me a woman who is ok that her boyfriend have photos of her ex. And women are allowed to have their ex boyfriend photos. Like WTF. That is the thing with women - they are unable to put themselves in other persons shoes.

[avery58]

Yeah, or at least move them to your hidden folder that way they're out of sight out of mind

[meepmeeperton]

I’d delete them. I would be pretty upset if I found my girlfriend saving photos of her ex.

[JacobJordan]

Why do you want memories of something that ultimately failed

[Shark_61695]

Archive them, they you have them if you need them but they are not there all the time.

[edmwarrior]

Put them in an encrypted hard drive and never look at them.

[TacosRAwesome]

I keep them because I don't want to go through them but I think the albums are hidden.

[SotiCoto]

Archive them in a folder called "blackmail material".

[MacDaddyRico]

Download them to a data storage device, then delete them.
Then stash the device in a cool, dry place.

[Jess014]

If your new boyfriend loves you it shouldn’t matter

[Dongie]

I wouldn't. Not all anyway. Maybe tuck one back. If your new one sees and asks burn it for him.

[Sasquach]

Only if you're hung up on them and feel like you have to in order to move on

[MrDaveAPSI]

It makes us think you're not actually over them, when you keep them around

[Theodoricus]

Burn all of them. If you don't love your new boyfriend, you don't have right to make him sad.

[KelsoAlexander]

yeah its part of moving on. Besides if the memory was worth remembering, you will. Best to not get stuck on the past.

[Ra__On]

You have to delete everything about your ex, girl. Even you have a good relationship with another guy. Don't ruin it, and delete.

[noohair]

I find that I can't grow if I live in the past. I would delete all.

[BigManSAB]

Yes! In fact, you should delete photos and contacts of everyone you’ve slept with. Not just your ex

[Crazzyyworld]

make sure he is not a boywhore. if he is get rid of him

[RedInnocent69]

No. That seems a bit childish. Put them away. Give it some time before deciding.

[HH1488]

No if you want to be miserable forever, yes if you want to be happy.

[Jason2469]

Maybe. You will never be free If you don't. How free do you want to be?

[Nikki1989]

You should never delete memories.

[tasqueen]

I never delete my old memories

[handsomelad70]

Up to you, lassie !!!

[DreamLife7]

You're 35 asking stupid questions

[Crinkc]

Yes. Try to move on

[cj72323]

Take your time and do what you feel is right at the moment

[justabuddy]

When you are ready to move on. Yes.

[DrPepper12]

Absolutely not.

[Danny_dan92]

It’ll help you

[KittygosMeoWW]

Ew yes

[dudeinohio]

Delete them.